Chapter 10
Thoughts and Fear
Turning from Lyn and the mysterious Leander I took the well worn road from our cottage to Coedbryn, a smile still on my face. Despite the fact that Lyn herself did not know of their new circumstances yet, I had a very good idea of what would occur between those two in the wood that afternoon. I was no longer surprised by the fact that Lyn and I know each other better than we know ourselves sometimes.
My thoughts turned to my own circumstances, and I was still at a loss. Where had Thanos gone? Would he return to me? What was the nature of our connection? Every time I tried to make sense of what had happened to me, to us, I gave myself a headache. The only thing I knew for sure was what I discovered in his eyes the first night. He would take me from the mountain and I would go willingly, but I did not know when or how.
Chaotic feelings whirled in my head and I decided to change direction. I need to see the Duchess, I thought, I need to collect my thoughts. I can buy flour tomorrow, Goodness knows we have enough bread and biscuits for at least a few days, I smiled at my newfound method of diversion.
I turned abruptly, cutting through the thick green, trusting my sense of direction to guide me to our special place, the center of the forest for us. Had it been a few years earlier, I could have done it with my eyes closed, as Lyn still did. But I had spent more time at home in the years that Lyn began keeping almost exclusively to the forest. The wood was special for both of us, but for Lyn it was a second home. Mother needed another person in the house so I stayed behind, not really minding. I felt as though because of all the time I spent with Mother I grew to understand her better. Lyn, especially recently, was always angry at Mother for withholding information from us, but I found I could not be. Through the years of idle conversation I had gathered that at one time Mother had divulged some secret she felt she should not have. The resulting guilt had made her wary of doing so again. I could not be angry with her for trying to protect us.
I was nearly at the Duchess' clearing. Her massive branches, full of new spring growth, engulfed my vision before I even entered our sanctuary. As I came out of the dense underbrush, I heard a strange scuffling and tensed, sensing danger but not from where. My wood sense was not what it used to be, and as my eyes fell on the group of little but strong men standing in wait for me I knew it was too late for flight.
"We meet again, my pretty treasure," the oldest of the four or them stepped forward and spoke. He was the annoying creature Lyn and I had met only a week before, not far from where we were standing. He brandished his weapon, a type I had never seen before. Its head was spherical, like a scepter, but protruding from the sphere was an axe blade, sharp and deadly, the handle was long and bejeweled. The entire thing seemed to be made of gold. After a moment he began speaking again, "I will steal you from that worthless bear of a prince," my eyes widened at the reference, not quite believing what his words insinuated, but still he continued, "I will make you mine completely." At that he gave me the cruelest smile I had ever seen, his little coal black eyes glittering fiercely as he motioned his men forward.
They were all short and stocky, and I realized suddenly what they were. From the legends and fairy tales of the eastern lands, little men, fierce in battle and greed, that hail from under the ground, reveling in the riches of their domain and bargaining with mortals, they were Dwarves. Judging by the weapon of my annoying acquaintance, he was their King. His henchmen were slowly advancing on me, spreading out to surround. The Dwarf King lifted his scepter higher, pointing it straight at my heart. I felt my body, my joints and muscles go still of their own accord. I could not move at all, and fear gripped my heart brutally. I tried to call out the Bear's name, but it took all of my strength to move my mouth enough to make any sound at all. I let out a scream that reverberated through the unnaturally silent forest, catching the dwarf by surprise. He did not let it last long, firmly snapping my jaw shut with a twist of his scepter.
My heart was pounding frantically in fear, as I heard a roar of outrage off in the distance and Lyn desperately shouting my name. I looked to the Dwarf King, something of hope and triumph in my eyes. His leering gaze did not waver, still gripping that scepter tightly in his stubby fingers, and I suddenly realized. The horrible little creature had wrought much evil with that glittering instrument and whatever he had done had affected us all. I saw what had to be done.